Child in charge of horse

[ChocolateJam]

Today I was at the yard when one of the other livery clients sent her daughter to fetch her (the mother's) horse in from the herd. The kid is about 7 or 8. I may be PFB about this but I didn't send my DD to do that on her own until she was around 11. Anyhow, that's none of my business. I then saw the girl leading the horse down the main farm road with only a lead rope looped around the horse's neck. This is quite a busy road as there are other businesses on the farm as well, and she clearly did not have control of the horse. Do I just let this go as it's none of my concern? Do I carefully raise it with the mum? Do I talk to the yard owner? I just feel the child, the horse and whoever else was on the road was put in danger unnecessarily had something spooked the horse and she ran off. I should maybe also mention that the mum was nowhere to be seen at the point when I saw all this happening so she certainly wasn't close enough to help in an emergency.

I would mention it to the YO. Personally, I wouldn't allow a child in with a herd , especially at this time of the year when they are keen to get in for their tea and can crowd around the gate. I also wouldn't be happy about leading a horse without a head collar unless it was within a safe area ( and that goes for adults and children alike). Even the quietest dope on a rope can have their moments..

That is a yard owner concern, as could have turned into a very nasty accident. The parent/owner of the horse has to be clearly told to never put the child, horse, or other road users at risk in that way ever again.

This happens a lot at our yard. We have quite a high number of children who own one two or three ponies and they go into the field on their own or with peers. It would depend on how the YO felt about this issue. Ours would just look at you in a puzzled way I imagine. We are not on a main road so don't know what his opinion would be but a lot of YO do not like to be too prescriptive as to what is going on and some certainly do like to be! Do you know the mum could you have a word with her as things can blow up very easily on yards. I find the least confrontational quiet word is the best place to start and generally have more impact. She may see it that you have 'reported' her rather than drawn her attention to something which worried you that she may not have been aware of. Are there many children on the yard?

I wouldn't do it - I don't even like picking one of mine out of my group of 4 as they can be a bit bargy. My 8 year old does catch and bring in but only her old pony and we are on our own land.

and I am very very strict about headcollars

but tbh it is none of your business unless it affects you in some way.

The mum is quite a "difficult customer" who would not take kindly to being told that something her child did was dangerous. I discussed it with the yard owner and we decided to send out a general email to all livery clients about safety on the road.

That seems like a good outcome? Hopefully she will take it on board. Roads (drivers) and horses can be a dangerous combination for adults let alone children!

And that is why I have it written into my contracts that all under 16's must be supervised by an adult at all times unless specific consent has been given. I don't mind having children on the yard (I have two of my own!), but they need to be well behaved as there are so many ways that they can injure themselves or others!

My 9 year old has been brought up with horses & has had her own pony for several years & she would never be allowed to do this.

Wow, that's unsafe!
Hopefully the YO will remind everyone of the rules. Shocking that the mother lets her daughter behave like that! Can't believe she sees nothing wrong with no headcollar on a road, and how can she bear to watch her small 7/8 year old go into a field of bargey horses? Wow!